Andrew Williams - The Barber Of Seville
Andrew Williams as Figaro in The Barber Of Seville. Photo: Jeff Busby.
In Australia the Sydney Opera House is the traditional home for operatic performances. However being such a vast country that means some people may never have to opportunity to see some of Australia's finest talents perform life. Noticing this Opera Australia implemented a National Touring program to their repertoire quite early on & is currently embarking on their 26th annual National Tour with their razor sharp production of Rossini's The Barber Of Seville.
Opera Australia began its National Tour program in 1996 and over the years has presented many of the country’s finest singers and musicians to more than 30,000 people across 117 metropolitan and regional locations. Opera Australia’s Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini impressed the ongoing value the National Tour has in increasing audience access to world-class performances, “The National Tour remains a key opportunity and a great pleasure for Opera Australia to bring exceptional talent to a broad range of audiences, particularly those living in regional areas."
Andrew Williams is one the exceptionally talented artists that will be showcased on this year's National Tour as he performs in the lead of role of Figaro in The Barber Of Seville. Speaking to Pario from the road in the early stages of the tour Andrew described the role of Figaro as "a surreal dream".
Undertaking one of the most iconic roles in opera for a male performer is not something to scoff at but for Andrew the journey to this point in his career started as a small boy. During our conversation with Andrew he reflected on finding his passion for singing.
"I've had singing lessons since I was around four & half, which is really really young but it was the only way that my parents could get me to shut up," laughed Andrew. "I was born in 1989, which was around the time that The Three Tenors were really taking off so I was always making sounds or singing along to them & the TV. So my parents thought it would be a great idea to get me into lessons & it stuck with me ever since."
For Andrew to now be given his debut in this role during a National Tour has been both thrilling & challenging, "being in a different city with a different audience gives the performance a different air every night. I'm really enjoying it so far & it's been really fun."
What makes this experience even more special for Andrew though is the gratitude the performances have all felt from the audience after each show.
"So far we've done 3 shows & you can just feel how grateful everyone is afterwards," said Andrew. "Particularly after COVID this is the first time that some of these places have had a touring performance come through. To be able to take this fantastic music & an opera that has an orchestra, singers & a fantastic set to regional communities is certainly really important."
By taking such an incredible production & opera into regional communities Andrew hopes that The Barber Of Seville will act as a gateway for the next generation of opera lovers.
"This opera in particular is hit after hit & there is something for everyone in it. If you're just going to check it out for the first time you're definitely going to get something special out of it. Hopefully that will spur more people to travel to the Opera House & see what is on there."
For audiences Andrew says this version of The Barber Of Seville will look just as grandiose as you would see in a major capital city. Backstage though the atmosphere is vastly different.
"There is certainly a different vibe to only performing in the city," explained Andrew. "On tour it all feels a lot more personal because we're all reliant on each other. If somebody is backstage looking for a prop or trying to set something up anybody that is around is trying to help... That bond gets even stronger the long we go too because it's presenting different challenges all of the time but everyone is having a great time together."
On August 19-20 The Barber Of Seville will make its way to Wollongong's Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, which Andrew is especially excited for.
"A long time ago I performed with the Illawarra Choral Society but I have never performed in an opera down there, so that will be a new & great experience I'm sure... I'm really excited because Wollongong is a great town - I've got some relatives down there in Thirroul, so I'm sure they'll be coming along & see me sing some big hits."
Aug 19-20. Illawarra Performing Arts Centre. $69-99+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.merrigong.com.au
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